PDA

View Full Version : Surya Namaskar



jaatdesi
January 13th, 2012, 10:16 AM
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/388330_10150482334065825_129697635824_8863498_2093 925508_n.jpg


Long long ago, may be six thousand years ago, students of your age (8 to 20-25 years) took education at the residence of their teacher. In the Guru-Kul there were students from humble families as well as from honourable and royal families. The syllabus consisted of all arts and all types of vocational courses. Scriptures were the recommended books and the World Citizen was the final aim of education. In those days ---- just try to reach the past time of six thousand years before. Try to locate the dear and near persons of your family in the past. You can remember your grandfather or grand grandfather. You cant trace the time and persons back for more than 100 or 150 years. But your father knows the name of your ancestor who lived thousands of years before. The GOTRA of your family and the PRAWARA OF THE GOTRA both indicate the names of the ancestors and the teachers, the Guru of the family.
So, in those days, in the Guru Kul, the day started long before sunrise. And the first session was that of Suryopasana / Surya Namaskar (Worshipping the Sun God), Sandhya Vidhi and the Gayatri Japa. Today we are going to learn something about Surya Namaskar. We are going to learn what, why and how of the Surya Namaskar, step by step.
• Lets pray to the Sun God.
• It is early in the morning.
• The sun is rising on the horizon.
• You have taken bath and you feel fresh and strong.
• Take the morning air deep into your lungs.
• Refer to Step Ahead to Excellence Warming up exercise.
• Stand straight. Be at ease.
• Fold your hands in Namaskar Mudra.
• There is no muscle tension anywhere on your body.
• There is no tension on your head and hair.
• No tension on your face forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, ears.
• There is no tension on your neck.
• Remove the tension, if there is any, on your neck, shoulders, elbows,
wrists, palms, fingers.
• Keep the muscles - of the stomach, abdomen, back - loose.
Relax the muscles of the thighs, knees, ankles, feet, toes etc.
• Be at a relaxed position.
आचम्य प्राणानायम्य ।। विष्*णुर्विष्*णुर्विष्*णु:।।
अद्यपूर्वोच्*चरित एवंगुणविशेषण विशिष्टायां शुभपुण्यतिथौ।।
मम शरीरे आरोग्यता प्राप्त्यर्थं श्रीसवितासूर्यनारायण
प्राप्त्यर्थं (संख्*या) सूर्यनमस्कारान् करीष्ये ।।
Aachaman: Open the palm straight. Keep away the thumb and the ladyfinger. Close the remaining three fingers and raise them a bit. A scoop is formed on the palm at the end of the fingers. Take a spoonful of water in the scoop. Release the water, from the wrist end of the palm, in your mouth.

Significance: Surya Namaskar generates heat and energy. Breathing becomes deep and hard. Aachaman prevents dry throat and keeps the throat and food pipe clean smooth and wet.

Pranayam: Controlling the breathing is called Pranayam. All your activities, physical-mental, are based on breathing. Inhaling is absorbing Prana Tatwa / life force in the body. Air is the carrier of Prana Tatwa / Cosmic Energy. At this stage take a deep breath and gradually release it out. Take a longer time to exhale. This time sense can be easily attained if you concentrate on the abdomen to breathe out completely. Significance: This is just a start to control breathing and to tune it with the body movements to be performed ahead in the practice of Surya Namaskar.

Meaning: The name of Lord Vishnu is repeated thrice Awahan, Stapana, Wandan (invitation, welcome, worship) Significance: This body of flesh is the legacy of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme self, the Paramatma. The meaning of the word Vishnu is omnipresent - one who is continuously and simultaneously present as a whole, at all time, everywhere. Our body is made of five elements the earth-fire-air-ether-water. The omnipresent entity was there before thecreation of the five elements. Hence one who created the elements created our body. We are above the Elements we are the Supeme self, the Paramatma. In Bhagwad Gita Lord Vishnu Bhagwan says I am the (seed) source of birth and growth of all the beings. I am the birth place of all intellect and courage (Chapter 7 shloka 10) In this way our body in flesh and blood is the heritage of Him. This call for Lord Vishnu is just to remind us of this inheritance. Meaning: The outstanding quality of Surya Namaskar is that it is in practice since from time immemorial. On this auspicious day I perform Surya Namaskar in order to make my body healthy. I undergo this age old practice in the honour of Lord SuryaNarayana.

Significance: This is Sankalpa, the resolution or decision that you are going to do certain thing. This is done to make your mind alert and to urge it to give all possible strength to all the parts of the body, involved in the action, to perform the activity. The Sankalpa makes your actions result oriented. It gives desired direction to your tongue, mind and body.
If you keep on walking, for example, without any goal you will reach nowhere. Hence Sankalpa is a must before every action. My parents and grand parents and ancestors have practised this art of Surya Namaskar. I also must have done it in the previous lives. Hence worshipping the Sun God is the part of my body, mind soul. It is the part of my personality. Whatever is done is done for Him. It is done in His honour. Nothing is mine. Everything belongs to him. The possessive sense of me-my-myself is to be put on regressive mode.
The starting shloka: (The prayer.) Dhynam ध्*येय:
Dheyah sada savitru mandala madhyawarti
Narayanah sarasijasana sannivistaha
Keyurawan makara kundalawan kiriti
Hari hiranya-maya-vapur-dhruta shankha chakrah.
Oh! Surya Narayana YOU are the crown glory, carrying shankha chakra in your hands.
YOU are the creator of joy and destroyer of sorrows.
YOU cover the entire universe with the golden twilight.
YOU are the Master, the Provider of the entire universe.
Oh! Sun God make all my efforts as bright and brilliant as the sun in the solar system

urmiladuhan
August 15th, 2013, 10:20 AM
16781

A nice affirmation. I practice yoga and i find such photos and affirmations very helpful :)

sanjeev_balyan
August 15th, 2013, 10:39 AM
16781

A nice affirmation. I practice yoga and i find such photos and affirmations very helpful :)

Is this photo motivating to practice Yoga.
or something else

urmiladuhan
August 15th, 2013, 11:07 AM
Surya namaskar in chart form (and funny too!)

16782

VPannu
August 15th, 2013, 04:30 PM
Surya namaskar in chart form (and funny too!)

16782This is not how Suryanamaskar is done. Although you may find it funny because of the bunny.

urmiladuhan
August 15th, 2013, 07:06 PM
This is not how Suryanamaskar is done. Although you may find it funny because of the bunny.

i think the chart gives a pretty good idea of surya namaskar. by the way, surya namaskar can be done with certain modifications. so there is no one way of doing it, i think.

deependra
August 15th, 2013, 09:20 PM
i think the chart gives a pretty good idea of surya namaskar. by the way, surya namaskar can be done with certain modifications. so there is no one way of doing it, i think.
Yeah, people do it with some modifications..but chair pose and reverse warrior pose, I haven't seen anyone incorporating these in modified form...
Not casting doubt on the benifits of these poses though..

deependra
August 15th, 2013, 09:26 PM
Recently, came across a book- "Anatomy of HathaYoga", written by David Coulter. A nicely written book on relation of Hathyoga to Anatomy and Physiology.

urmiladuhan
August 16th, 2013, 06:05 AM
perhaps you could share some interesting information from the book for those of us who donot have the book. What does is say on surya namaskar, if you may summarise it for our convenience :)



Recently, came across a book- "Anatomy of HathaYoga", written by David Coulter. A nicely written book on relation of Hathyoga to Anatomy and Physiology.

VPannu
August 27th, 2013, 04:50 PM
i think the chart gives a pretty good idea of surya namaskar. by the way, surya namaskar can be done with certain modifications. so there is no one way of doing it, i think.
The only way I know of doing this is like seen in the picture 16812

urmiladuhan
August 27th, 2013, 07:31 PM
The only way I know of doing this is like seen in the picture 16812

Nice chart. Ideally, it should be done facing the rising sun. But it can be done at any time, facing any direction.

urmiladuhan
September 1st, 2013, 02:51 PM
You are very correct. I am following your chart.


The only way I know of doing this is like seen in the picture 16812